Senior Staff Engineer, Structural Analysis (Aerospace)

Location: On-site in Seattle, Washington, United States

Company

Develops next-generation UAV platforms and aerospace systems.

What you will do

• Lead structural analysis for UAV airframes, major substructures, and critical components.
• Define finite element models, load cases, assumptions, and structural margin assessments.
• Perform and oversee static, modal, fatigue, vibration, and damage-tolerance analyses.
• Support structural test planning, execution, model validation, and analysis-to-test correlation.
• Optimize structures for performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability.
• Mentor structural analysts and collaborate with design, loads, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems teams.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in structural analysis, aircraft structures, or aerospace systems.
• Strong expertise with FEA tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, HyperWorks, or similar.
• Advanced hand-calculation skills for strength, stability, fatigue, and damage tolerance.
• Significant experience with composite and lightweight aerospace structures, structural testing, model correlation, and flight-test validation.
• Ability to lead complex technical workstreams, influence design decisions, and present analysis findings to engineering leadership. Ability to obtain a S//SAR-level security clearance is desired.

Nice to have

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Senior technical leadership experience on aircraft or UAV structural programs.
• Hands-on flight-test support and certification experience.
• Experience developing internal analysis standards and familiarity with CAD, PLM, and enterprise engineering tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employee position.
• Cross-functional work spanning aircraft design, testing, production, and systems engineering.
• Opportunity to improve structural analysis methodologies and organizational standards.